Roll-n-Roaster in Sheepshead Bay

For all the of all allegiance that New Yorkers have for for their longstanding food institutions Roll-n-Roaster doesn't get the attention of Gray's Papaya or even Peter Luger. This might have something to do with the fact that Roll-n-Roaster is located in Sheepshead Bay, a beachside community located on the southeastern most tip of Brooklyn, and a serious hike from most parts of the city. But regardless of national acclaim, Roll-n-Roaster has been going strong since 1970.

Aside from the great namesake Roaster Beef sandwiches served at Roll-n-Roaster much of the appeal comes from the fantastically untouched 1970s decor. One a recent Saturday afternoon the orange and yellow booths were filled with families celebrating birthdays, fishermen having lunch and more bona fide bikers than I've ever seen in Brooklyn. An enormous bunch of brown, orange, yellow, and white balloons that coordinated perfectly with the color scheme of the restaurant.

The menu boasts a variety of non-roast beef options including chicken wings, fried shrimp, and baked sweet potatoes but I went with the standard—a roast beef sandwich with cheese and onions and cheese fries.

I was pleasantly surprised that the roast beef could be ordered rare, medium, or well-done, an option not frequently available at counter service places. Once I retrieved my tray I found a great little pink toothpick sticking out of my sandwich denoting its temperature. And true to the marker the beef was pretty rare, thinly sliced and perfectly tender. The sweet grilled onions and generous dollop of tangy Cheez Whiz really made the sandwich along with a house made sesame seeded kaiser bun.

Cheese fries aren't something that I normally order outside of Philadelphia but Roll-n-Roaster's version was dead on. The Whiz was straight from the can (not necessarily a bad thing) and the fries were cut into a shape that I can only compare to bread and butter pickles. Salty, crispy, cheesy, and messy—some of the best I've had in recent memory.

On my way to Roll-n-Roaster I passed several intriguing waterfront Russian and Turkish restaurants not to mention Randazzo's Clam Bar and Clemente's Maryland Crab House. Sheepshead Bay is shaping up to be my summer eating destination.

Roll-n-Roaster

2901 Emmons Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Valentine's Day Dim Sum at World Tong

Not eating out on Valentine's Day has been a rule of mine for a very long time but this year was a happy exception. The plan was to make our way to Net Cost Market in search of reasonably priced caviar and stock up for a romantic meal at home but on our way I realized that we were just a few blocks away from a dim sum restaurant that I had been meaning to check out. We decided to make a detour and pop into World Tong.


We were seated immediately at the only empty table in the place. It took just a few seconds for it to register that not only was it Valentine's Day and President's Weekend but also the Chinese New Year and an ideal day for dim sum.


Tea was poured and chopsticks were set and the carts started coming. Metal steamers with dumplings filled with shrimp, pork, chives, and everything in between.


Plates of pork belly with shatteringly crisp skin and a sweet-sticky-sour dipping sauce.


Tempura fried peppers stuffed with shrimp paste that were deceptively spicy and insanely delicious.


Rice noodles wrapped around fried dough sauced with soy and scallion. Little pieces of spareribs with fermented black beans. Even tiny bird shaped pastries filled with sweet bean paste and painted with little red beaks and black eyes.

The meal was a whirlwind and there were at least ten dishes that we didn't get to sample for the sheer fact that there were only two of us and we couldn't possibly eat another plate. Plates of tripe with turnips and chile eggplant are two that I will definitely be going back for.

World Tong
6202 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204

Otto & Crif Dogs

So I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on the pizza at Mario Batali's Otto in NYC. Didn't exactly blow me away but it was decent. I would say Tacconelli's and even Osteria here in Philly are a notch above.

But what they don't have is probably the best salted caramel gelato I've ever had, pretty ballsy it's more salty than sweet and tastes like something you might rub on a rack of ribs. Awesome.

We also don't have Crif Dogs open for pork-roll wrapped hot dogs at 3am. And the best tater tots in the world, I don't know if they make them by hand or fry them in peanut oil or what but they're always perfect.

Lunch at Del Posto

32 dollars for 3 courses at Del Posto? Really?

The bread was delicious, especially with a side of nice creamy lard to spread on it. Herb salad & octopus appetizer were decent but not super exciting. Steak was nice and simple, the "roman ribs" were OK but sort of boring. We also split the garganelli bolognese which was incredible. Pasta is definitely the way to go here.

The chocolate torta with sea salt and stratiatella gelato was fantastic. Restaurant dessert more often than not bores the hell out of me- especially on dumbed-down lunch prix fixe menus.

It's sort of strange for the first impression of such a grandiose restaurant to be a cheapo lunch prix fixe. But it's a great deal-
and looking at the full menu you realize it's just a small taste of what goes on. Good enough to want to go back for dinner.

Crif Dogs

I've been hearing a lot about Crif Dogs on St Marks St. in Manhattan, and PDT; their "speakeasy" next door that can only be accessed by placing a call on a pay phone inside the hot dog place which opens a hidden door and allows you entry to a super amazing secret cocktail bar.

Sounds like either the best thing ever or a gimmick to sell overpriced hot dogs and 15 dollar drinks. For me the best hot dog in new york has always been the bright red, ultra cheap dogs at Papaya King and Gray's Papaya.

We were there too early for the bar (opens at 6pm) but until then it's BYO and there's a beer store on every corner. And the dogs were really really good. The bagel style deep fried dog with cream cheese, green onions, and everything bagel topping sounded really bad until I tried it, and whoa it's genius. Slaw dog was good and the Tater Tots were kind of amazing. I wonder if they make them from scratch, probably not but they were really amazing for some reason, super crispy and hot and without that freezer burn taste you usually get...

Also tried their mexican dog which was decent. Wrapped in bacon with avacado and mayonnaise. Had a really good mexican dog at SPTR last week too.. although word is you need to go to mexico or san diego for the real deal. Anyway we never made it to the bar but these hot dogs are worth the trip by themselves.

Crif Dogs
113 St Marks
NY, NY

Hot Dog!

On Sunday I went to a pretty amazing food event, the Hot Dog Hootenanny at Astor Center in New York.  There were four types of hot dogs available for tasting, all you can drink beer and prosecco and a hot dog lecture given by Bruce Kraig, author of Hot Dog: A Global History.

The hot dogs were all delicious examples of regional and haute hot dog styles.  The classic New York style dog from Papaya King was topped off with sauerkraut, mustard and a sweet, ketchupy onion sauce.  The Chicago dog was had all of the traditional accompaniments - mustard, onion, tomato, celery salt, neon green relish,  a pickle spear and sport peppers all on top of a Vienna frank in a poppy seed bun.  

The two nouveau dogs were really fantastic. The Korean Bulgogi dog from New York Hot Dogs and Coffee was topped with spicy, sesame accented bulgogi, some lettuce and pickles and served on a bun that was a little chewier and more substantial than a regular hot dog bun.  The last dog was from the hot dog joint / secret cocktail bar Crif Dogs- the Chihuahua Dog is a deep fried, bacon wrapped dog served with slices of avocado and sour cream, insanely delicious.

The beer was from Kelso Brewery in Brooklyn, they provided a nutty brown ale that complimented the hot dogs perfectly.

The Hot Dog Hootenanny was  a great tribute to the humble hot dog and there are rumors of a similar hamburger event taking place in the near future!

Yonah Schimmel

I lived in New York for 5 years and somehow never ate one of these, don't know what the hell was wrong with me, eating those sketchy $1 knishes from the hot dog carts and thinking that was it.

Thank got this place is still here, they were out of celery soda but black cherry is almost as good.

Yonah Schimmel
137 East Houston Street
Nyc

K-Town

I've found myself in K-Town a lot recently.  OB beer, kimchi, awesome food served 24 hours, there are so many reasons.   I usually go late at night after getting off of work but I've found a new reason to go, one of the best lunch specials ever at Kun Jip.  For around $15 you get dolsot bibimbap (sizzling rice in a hot stone bowl with marinated slices of beef, vegetables and a raw egg yolk) and a bowl of  doen jang chigae (a spicy tofu and seafood soup) plus an amazing array of banchan.  The banchan is so good, kimchi (cabbage and diakon), dried and shredded squid with chili paste, pea shoots, a fantastic sweet and spicy pumpkin dish and an incredible egg custard.  

Kun Jip

9 West 32nd St.

New York, NY 10001

Katz Deli

I am not the first. I definitely won't be the last. But, experiencing an institution like Katz Deli for the first time was amazing.

From the insane line lead by their own security to the first slap of a piece of pastrami on a plate for you to taste you know you are in for a gut busting hour of power. I got the reuben styled pastrami. Hot pastrami with melted swiss, kraut, and homemade russian dressing on rye. Add a little spicy mustard and heaven has arrived. The half-sour pickles are great, but I am going for full sour next time, more pickle, less cuke.

Amazing food. Historic atmosphere and just a classic New York experience.

Dessert Truck

In Hawaii there are no ice cream trucks. So whenever I see one now, I freak out and follow it. The idea of delicious things on wheels always intrigues me, so I flipped out when I found out about the Dessert Truck. 

Unfortunately I live in the Philly, so I can't readily get to the Dessert Truck, which has all non-pretention yet well made desserts all for 5 bucks. Things like warm waffles with nutella, bananas and sea salt or Creme Brulee from a truck sounds like the best things in the world to me.

It's on University Place near 8th on Tuesdays through Fridays from 6 till it's gone! 

www.desserttruck.com

coney island

rumor has it coney island, at least the important parts of it, are going to be gone after this summer. all these beautiful hand painted signs for hot corn, italian sausages, most of the rides, bulldozed to make way for some crappy yuppie condos or something. so for this 4th of july here's some of my favorite food photos from coney island.















also tommorow is the famous 4th of july hot dog eating contest.
nathansfamous.com


so go check out coney island this summer before it's too late!!


Astroland
Wonder Wheel
Nathan's Hot Dogs
Cyclone Roller Coaster
1000 Surf Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224